These "Talking Points" were distributed to the Steering Committee, and they provide a useful frame for discussing the initiative.
Partnership for Change Talking Points ● Our education system must change in order to meet the demands of the 21st century. A whole new set of skills is required to succeed in a global economy driven by information and innovation. ● There is a direct link between the development of our young people and the development of a robust economy and strong civil society. Winooski and Burlington schools are preparing the next generation of workers and their preparation has the ability to enhance our community. ● To help build a strong and dynamic future for Winooski and Burlington, the two communities have joined hands in “remodeling” aspects of our educational system to better prepare all of our students for a rapidly changing, global society.
● When you remodel a house, you make substantial changes, keeping the previous shape of the house, but updating old parts, and making the house more modern and efficient. Remodeling creates temporary dust, noise, and inconvenience, but when you remodel you don’t have to start from scratch—you strengthen what’s working and fix what’s not. If we approach educational reform as remodeling, we will be more successful in providing students with what they need to build our society.
● The Partnership for Change, the bridging entity that will help lead this effort, is bringing our schools and communities to the same table. Together, we will design and implement a new system of student-centered learning, a system that recognizes that each student learns differently, and that learning happens all the time and everywhere.
● As we look to expand the confines of our current education model, we imagine a structure where internships and community involvement happen during the school day for credit. Where students can build their proficiencies by studying content that is most interesting and relevant to them. Where parents are involved in a continuous feedback loop with the school and community to help design these opportunities. Where teachers work in cross-district collaboration to expand possibilities of their classroom outside the school walls. And most importantly, a community where everyone is working together in innovative ways to support student’s success.
● This remodeling will be most successful when we all work together. Like an orchestra, our educational system has many groups of players. The orchestra sounds best when each musician is skilled and they work together towards the common goal of playing the best music. In that spirit, the Partnership realizes we must bring the players in our communities together to ensure the success of this effort. Our Steering Committee, populated by teachers, parents, students and community members, is full of dedicated individuals ready to “play” at this effort together. ● You might stay that the world is handing our “orchestra” new music to play. No orchestra becomes great overnight, and the beauty of the music depends on dedicated practice by musicians who have what they need to be harmonious, and continue improving their musicianship.
● The Partnership for Change is helping to create the blueprint for the remodeling of our educational system, beginning with our high schools, and ensuring that the orchestra—our entire community—is working together to create a system that sets up our young people—and our two cities—for successful and hopeful futures.
Partnership for Change Talking Points
● Our education system must change in order to meet the demands of the 21st century. A whole new set of skills is required to succeed in a global economy driven by information and innovation.
● There is a direct link between the development of our young people and the development of a robust economy and strong civil society. Winooski and Burlington schools are preparing the next generation of workers and their preparation has the ability to enhance our community.
● To help build a strong and dynamic future for Winooski and Burlington, the two communities have joined hands in “remodeling” aspects of our educational system to better prepare all of our students for a rapidly changing, global society.
● When you remodel a house, you make substantial changes, keeping the previous shape of the house, but updating old parts, and making the house more modern and efficient. Remodeling creates temporary dust, noise, and inconvenience, but when you remodel you don’t have to start from scratch—you strengthen what’s working and fix what’s not. If we approach educational reform as remodeling, we will be more successful in providing students with what they need to build our society.
● The Partnership for Change, the bridging entity that will help lead this effort, is bringing our schools and communities to the same table. Together, we will design and implement a new system of student-centered learning, a system that recognizes that each student learns differently, and that learning happens all the time and everywhere.
● As we look to expand the confines of our current education model, we imagine a structure where internships and community involvement happen during the school day for credit. Where students can build their proficiencies by studying content that is most interesting and relevant to them. Where parents are involved in a continuous feedback loop with the school and community to help design these opportunities. Where teachers work in cross-district collaboration to expand possibilities of their classroom outside the school walls. And most importantly, a community where everyone is working together in innovative ways to support student’s success.
● This remodeling will be most successful when we all work together. Like an orchestra, our educational system has many groups of players. The orchestra sounds best when each musician is skilled and they work together towards the common goal of playing the best music. In that spirit, the Partnership realizes we must bring the players in our communities together to ensure the success of this effort. Our Steering Committee, populated by teachers, parents, students and community members, is full of dedicated individuals ready to “play” at this effort together.
● You might stay that the world is handing our “orchestra” new music to play. No orchestra becomes great overnight, and the beauty of the music depends on dedicated practice by musicians who have what they need to be harmonious, and continue improving their musicianship.
● The Partnership for Change is helping to create the blueprint for the remodeling of our educational system, beginning with our high schools, and ensuring that the orchestra—our entire community—is working together to create a system that sets up our young people—and our two cities—for successful and hopeful futures.